Kozhikode: Revolutionary Marxist Party leader T P Chandrasekharan was hacked to death by unidentified attackers at Vallykkadu near Vadakara in the district on Friday night, police said.

Chandrasekharan, who was expelled from CPI(M) few years back, had floated his outfit challenging the party in its stronghold Onchiyam in Vadakara area in the district.

Chandrasekhran, once a supporter of CPI(M) veteran V S Achuthanandan, was expelled from the party after he incurred the wrath of party officials. Chandrasekharan began his political career as an activist of CPI(M)'s campus wing SFI. He later became a whole-timer of the party in its stronghold.

He was once known as a supporter of senior leader V S Achuthanandan and was said to have incurred the wrath of the faction loyal to the party state Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan.

Leaders of various political parties condemned the murder of Chandrasekharan.

According to police, Chandrasekharan was attacked by assailants who came by a car while he was riding a motorcycle alone. Country-made bombs were hurled at him and when he fell off the motorcycle, he was hacked to death with sharp weapons, police said.

CPI(M) District Secretary T P Ramakirishan refuted the allegation by UDF leaders that his party could be behind the murder of Chandrasekharan.

"Our party has nothing to do with this incident. We are opposed to this type of violence," Ramakrishnan told reporters. Home Minister Thiruvanchur Radhakrishan condemned the incident and said an investigation would be conducted and culprits be brought to justice.

Union Minister of State for Home Mullapally Ramachandran expressed grief over the murder of Chandrasekharan.

Expressing shock at the murder, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said this was a heinous crime quite unbecoming of the social and political culture of Kerala. He said when he met Chandrasekharan some months back, he had complained of violence resorted to by certain quarters against their rivals.

Chandy said police would conduct an effective investigation into the incident and the culprits would be traced and arrested at the earliest. He is expected to arrive at Kozhikode later on Saturday.

State wide bandh in protest of murder

Meanwhile, the Congress-led ruling UDF is observing a state-wide dawn to dusk hartal on Saturday to protest the murder of Revolutionary Marxist Party leader and expelled CPI(M) member T P Chandrasekharan.